Starzaan can shrug off a 315-day absence and make a glorious return to action in the totesport.com Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury.

Hughie Morrison’s 10-year-old does not have many miles on the clock for a horse of his age, as he has been plagued by injuries in the past.

However, on his day he is a classy performer as he demonstrated when beating odds-on favourite Noland in a Grade Two event at the Scottish Grand National meeting.

Starzaan showed plenty of guts to outbattle his rival that day and bounce back from lacklustre runs at both Cheltenham and Aintree.

He is probably just a shade short of top-class company but he is a horse that goes well fresh, as he showed when winning first time up after a near two-year lay off last season.

Starzaan should appreciate the likely good ground at Newbury and it would not be the biggest surprise if he were to hit the jackpot.

SELECTIONS:

DONCASTER: 1.50 Ballabrook, 2.25 Ermine Sea, 2.55 Maktu, 3.25 Noir Et Vert, 4.00 Lidar, 4.35 Marleybow, 5.10 Polar Gunner.

KELSO: 2.00 Cash Man, 2.30 Houston Dynimo, 3.05 Camden George, 3.35 Money Trix, 4.10 Pepite De Soleil, 4.45 Time To Reflect, 5.20 Gold Thread.

KEMPTON: 1.45 King Brex, 2.20 Theatrical Moment, 2.50 Pasco, 3.20 The Shoe, 3.55 My Turn Now. 4.30 Constantius, 5.05 Ryde Back.

NAVAN: 2.15 Moville, 2.40 Deise Dan, 3.20 Robin Du Bois, 3.50 In The Haven, 4.25 Equus Maximus, 5.00 Captain Conflict, 5.30 Some Present.

NEWBURY: 1.35 Aqualung, 2.05 Fit To Drive, 2.35 Darkness, 3.10 STARZAAN (NAP), 3.45 Mutual Friend, 4.20 Kevkat, 4.55 Ashleys Lad.

DOUBLE: Starzaan and Lidar.

Tweet